Aquatic device



F. G. ROZANSKI AQUATIC DEVICE Sept. 6, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 6 1963 INVENTOR. FRANK GJQOZA/VSKI ATTORNEYS Sept. 6, 1966 ROZANSK] 3,270,707

AQUATIC DEVICE Filed Nov. 6, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. F4 K 6.202/4/1/5/0 BY 34, @uckzayfgmp A TTORNEYS Sept. 6, 1966 F. G. ROZANSKI 3,270,707

AQUATIC DEV]. CE

Filed NOV. 6, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N VENTOR. FRA NK 6. ROZAN5K/ AT T OENEYS United States Patent 3,270,707 AQUATIC DEVICE Frank G. Rozanski, Perry, N.Y., assignor to Aqua-Dart, Inc., Perry, N.Y. Filed Nov. 6, 1963, Ser. No. 321,791 Claims. (Cl. 11570) This invention relates to aquatic vehicles and pertains, more particularly, to certain improvements in water sled devices which, although being rudderless, are nevertheless fully under control of the user.

The present invention pertains to a device which con- 'sists essentially of a planing hull having an extension articulately connected thereto. In this fashion, not only is it possible to provide comfortable and full body support for the occupant, but also the device is capable of very quickly attaining a planing condition whereas, at the same time, the device is capable of very short turns and rapid maneuvering by the arrangement as described.

A further object of this invention is to provide an extremely lightweight and portable aquatic vehicle of the type described in which a significant portion of the vehicle length is formed by a simple extension board which is hingedly connected to the hull portion of the vehicle, thus permitting the hull portion to be made of small and compact size to minimize the weight of the vehicle and to maximize its portability and maneuverability.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of a substantially watertight hull which is characterized by being self propelled, the same containing a power plant and associated propeller drive means which are interconnected at respective internal and external positions by means which sandwiches the hull bottom therebetween, rendering the assembly compact and of light weight chana-cter.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the description hereinbelow and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the device according to the present invention illustrating the component parts thereof in normal planing position .and illustrating the body-supporting features of the assemblage;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are front and rear elevational views respectively of the assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is .a longitudinal section taken through the vehicle constructed in accordance with this invention and, once again, illustrating the body-supporting feature of the device;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the plane of section line 7-7 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially amidship as indicated by the section line 88 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a vertical section taken through the bow portion as indicated by the section line 9-9 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal vertical section taken substantially along the plane of section line 10-10 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 11 is a transverse vertical section through the control board assembly taken substantially along the plane of section line 11-11 in FIG. 3.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, the aquatic vehicle as shown therein will be seen to consist essentially of a substantially watertight hull assembly indicated generally by the reference character 10 and an extension for such hull as is indicated generally by the reference character 12. These two entities are articulately con- 3,270,707 Patented Sept. 6, 1966 nected as by means of a hinge 14 establishing a transverse generally horizontal pivot axis between these two entities as indicated by the reference character 16. As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 2, the hull 10 is provided with a rear deck portion 18 which is substantially flat and which extends from about amidship to the rear end of the hull whereat the hull is provided with a notch or cutaway portion as indicated by the reference character 20. Extending along on either side of the aft end of the hull are a pair of uprights or fins- 22 and 24 which extend forwardly from the rear end wall portions 26 and 28 thereof which are disposed rearwardly of the hull notch 20 and which fins extend forwardly to terminate short of the forward end of the deck portion 18 whereat they are provided with vertical and preferably arcuately shaped front wall or abutment portions 30 and 32 which, as may be seen best in FIG. 1, for example, conveniently provide abutment surfaces against which the upper arm portions of an operator may rest to support and hold the operator in a longitudinal direction relative to the hull.

As can be seen in FIG. 6, the hull 10 is provided with a substantially flat bottom 34 bounded on either side by rudder portions 36 which lend and impart stability to the hull as hereinafter more particularly described and the lower surface of the control board 12 is slightly stepped upwardly relative to the plane of the bottom 34 when the parts are in the position shown in FIG. 6. It can also be seen that the control board 12 is pivoted to the hull forwardly of the aft ends of the fins 22 and 24 and that when the parts are in the position shown in FIG. 6, the undersides of the rear ends of the fins 22 and 24 provide stop surfaces as at 38 to limit the upward swinging motion or movement of the control board 12. Thus, in this position of the component parts of the mechanism, the control board 12 forms a substantially coplanar extension of the bottom 34 of the hull and also presents a slightly downwardly step continuation of the deck portion 18, albeit the control board is articulately related thereto. Thus, when the hull 10 is in a planing condition, the parts will be positioned as is shown in FIG. 6 and steering control of the assembly is effected by foot control movements of the operator. For example, if it is desired to make a left turn, the operator merely drags the left foot. In practice, the control is so effective that the operator can literally spin the assembly around with full control if such a rapid maneuver is desired.

'As can also be seen best in FIG. 6, the hull 10 is hollow and houses therein a power plant assembly indicated generally by the reference character 40. The power plant may take any desired form and as shown is provided with an exhaust pipe 42 connected with an exhaust tip member 44 discharging through the bottom 34. The power plant is mounted on a plate member 46 and the propeller assembly 48 is mounted on a plate member 50, the bottom 34 of the hull being sandwiched between the motor assembly and the propeller assembly to provide a rigid, watertight mounting. The propeller assembly 48 includes the gear box 52 for driving the propeller 54 and a duct or shroud 56 surrounds the propeller substantially as is shown.

A cover member 60 is provided which may be swung upwardly to one side, see particularly FIG. 7, by the axis of the hinge 62 to provide access to the interior of the engine compartment. This arrangement is particularly desirable wherein the power plant is provided with a pull starter. The stem mounted fuel tank 64 is provided with any suitable fuel lines connected to the engine, as will be obvious.

Two controls are provided for the power plant 40, one, as designated by the reference character 66 in FIG. 2, being a dead man cutout switch, and the other,

designated by reference character 68 in FIG. 2, being a throttle control. As can be seen best in FIG. 8, the dead man switch comprises a hand lever 70 attached to a pivot shaft 72 for controlling a suitable cutout switch 74 and the throttle control comprises a lever 76 attached to a pivot shaft 78 having linkage connections as at 80 to the power plant carburetor for controlling the power output. Both levers 70 and 76 are normally spring urged to a forward position and the action of the lever 70 is such that the switch 74 will provide a cutout for the power plant 40 unless the lever is urged rearwardly. Thus, during operation of the vehicle, should the operator either intentionally or unintentionally release the lever 70, the motor will stop. This is particularly valuable to prevent running away of the vehicle should the operator either fall or be thrown therefrom. The control board, in any case, is conveniently located for comfortable and easy manipulation thereof when the operator is in the position shown in FIG. 1 with the backs of the upper arms engaged against the abutment surfaces 30 and 32 at the forward ends of the fins 22 and 24, as previously described.

As can be best seen in FIG. 8, the power plant is provided with a base adapter plate 80 to which the exhaust system 82 is mounted, which adapter plate 80 is provided with suitable internal passages leading to the engine and to the exterior of the hull and, as well, to the exhaust system so that the exhaust system may induct cooling water from exteriorly of the hull and through the engine, in accord with well known principles of this type. FIG. 8 also illustrates the stepped runners 36 which are provided along the opposite sides of the hull, it being particularly noted that these runners are constructed not only to extend downwardly from the hull bottom 34 to lend stability of the craft, but also are stepped as shown to throw spray outwardly laterally from the opposite sides of the vehicle and prevent spray from being directed onto the operator.

Either or both of the fins 22 and 24 may be constructed as shown in FIG. 10. In this figure, it will be seen that aspiration air for the power plant enters through an inlet tip 90 into the interior of the fin 22 as shown.

The fin is provided with an upwardly inclined baffie 92 extending forwardly from the rear face or wall 26 thereof and immediately above this bafile, in the rear wall 26, is a drain opening 94. Operating in conjunction with this baffie 92 are a pair of vertical baflles 96 and 98 which are positioned as shown to clear both the top wall 100 of the fin and the opposed upper face of the bafile 92 so that should water enter the hull through the inlet 90, the same will be arrested and deflected by the baffles 92 and 96 and directed by the bafile 92 to the drain opening 94. In this fashion, the interior of the hull is maintained free of water. To lend rigidity to the control board 12, the same may be formed in cross section in the manner shown in FIG. 11. In this figure, it will be seen that the central portion 110 on the control board is raised relative to the outboard sections 112 and 114 thereof so that a substantial degree of rigidity is imparted to the control board. The stepped portions 116 and 118 are preferably rearwardly convergent as is illustrated best in FIGS. 2 and 3 and, in any 'event, they will be so placed 51s to present a comfortable platform for the operators egs.

In operation, the control board aspect, particularly as regards to the cooperative relation thereof with the deck portion 18 is such as to permit the operator when the vehicle is at rest or moving at slow speeds, to depress the control board 12 so that it forms an oblique angle with the hull bottom 34. If full power is now app-lied from the engine, the hull will very quickly attain a planing condition due to the lift imparted to the entire assembly by virtue of the depressed position of the control board. Of course, as soon as a planing condition is approached and ultimately reached, the operator will be unable to maintain the control board depressed and the same will assume the position as is shown for example in FIG. 1. However, this feature of the invention permits a great nicety of control by the operator for rapidly and easily attaining a planing condition for the hull assembly. By the same token, if power is suddenly reduced, the operator may utilize the control board as a brake. As a result of the above, and the previously mentioned rudder control affected by the operator dragging one or the other of his feet, the craft is extremely maneuverable and all maneuvers can be achieved as rapidly as may be desired. At the same time, the craft is extremely comfortable to ride due to the upper and lower body portion supports afforded by the deck and control board respectively and by the good support achieved by the forward abutment surfaces of the fins 22 and 24.

I claim:

1. An aquatic vehicle comprising, in combination,

a hull having a rearwardly disposed, generally horizontal deck and a generally horizontal bottom, a pair of vertical fin members extending forwardly at the rear of said hull along the opposite sides of said deck and presenting forwardly facing abutment surfaces adjacent their forward ends,

a control board hingedly secured to the rearward end of said hull,

said fins projecting rearwardly of said hull in overlying relation to the forward end of said control board to limit upward pivotal movement thereof to a position disposed generally parallel to and substantially coplanar with said bottom of bull,

and propulsion means carried by said hull.

2. An aquatic vehicle comprising,

a self-propelled hull having a torso-supporting rear deck and a bottom underlying such deck,

a tabular leg-supporting extension for said hull hingedly secured to the rear end thereof in stepped relation below said rear deck substantially as a continuation of said hull bottom,

and means limiting upward swinging movement of said extension,

said means comprising a pair of fins overlying the forward end of said extension and extending forwardly therefrom, said fins being notched adjacent the forward end of said rear deck to present arm-support surfaces.

3. The vehicle as defined in claim 2 wherein a power plant is mounted within said lhllll, at least one of said fins having an air intake thereinto for supplying air to the power plant, an upwardly and forwardly inclined baffie plate in said one fin below said air intake, and said fin having a drain opening immediately above said baffle plate.

4. In an aquatic vehicle, in combination,

a rudderless hull defining a substantially enclosed engine compartment, said hull having a substantially fiat bottom,

a propeller drive assembly depending from said hull bottom, an engine within said compartment above said propeller drive assembly, and means securing said engine and said propeller drive assembly together and sandwiohing said hull bottom therebetween,

a throttle control member mounted substantially amidship of said hull and externally at one side thereof, and a dead man control member similarly mounted at the other side of said hull,

said hull also having a substantially flat rear deck portion bounded by upright wall members along opposite sides thereof, said wall members having forwardly facing abutment surface portions disposed rearwardly of said control members.

5. A marine craft adapted to be ridden by an operator 5 6, comprising in combination a Water-tight hull; means for References (Iited by the Examiner propellin the hull; a pair of longitudinally extending fins OREIGN PATENT afiixed t; the aft portion of the hull in laterally spaced F S apart positions to define a body receiving cavity; said hull 1,1063 7/1955 Franceincluding lateral cavities for the operators arms at the for- 5 ward edges of the fins in communication with the body MILTON BUCHLERPHmary Examme'l' receiving cavity; and a control board hingedly connected R. DAVID BLAKESLEE, FERGUS S. MIDDLETON to the bottom of the hull and operable by the operators Examiners. legs to elevate or depress the bow of the hull. T. M. BLIX, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN AQUATIC VEHICLE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A HULL HAVING A REARWARDLY DISPOSED, GENERALLY HORIZONTAL DECK AND A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL BOTTOM, A PAIR OF VERTICAL FIN MEMBERS EXTENDING FORWARDLY AT THE REAR OF SAID HULL ALONG THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID DECK AND PRESENTING FORWARDLY FACING ABUTMENT SURFACES ADJACENT THEIR FORWARD ENDS, A CONTROL BOARD HINGEDLY SECURED TO THE REARWARD END OF SAID HULL, SAID FINS PROJECTING REARWARDLY OF SAID HULL IN OVERLYING RELATION TO THE FORWARD END OF SAID CONTROL BOARD TO 